An eclectic collection of people share what matters most to them in their Wisconsin lives. Meet a Green Bay teen who joins the only all-female Great Lakes tall ship crew, a pair of Door County artists with a special connection, a Nekoosa-based custom crafter of pool cues, a La Crosse professor who lives to “bust myths” and a River Falls librarian with a novel idea to promote a love of books.
A collection of eclectic people share their Wisconsin lives - including an Argyle couple with an impressive toy train collection, a Lac du Flambeau man who shares his tradition of birchbark canoe building, a Stevens Point author of a popular trilogy of fantasy novels, a metal sculptor who transforms trash into treasure and a lifelong book enthusiast with a passion for Little Free Libraries.
Stories of life around Wisconsin include a trio of Lake Geneva mail boat jumpers, a woodcarver who captures delicate details, the director of Milwaukee’s Latino Strings Orchestra, a Madison photographer who documents the night skies and a roving band of “yarn guerillas” in La Crosse.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin lives. Stories include the Egg Lady of Egg Harbor, a Door County hockey team that plays under water, a UW-Oshkosh professor who won an international award for being the best of the worst, a youth counselor who helps teens gain confidence through nature photography.
Watch this episode to meet an eclectic collection of people who share what matters most to them in their Wisconsin lives including: an urban farmer, a yoga instructor who adds a new twist to the traditional practice, a pair of Midwest surfers, a Native teacher in Green Bay schools and an unlikely set of hunting partners.
Watch this episode to meet a whole new collection of people who share their Wisconsin lives, including: Chef Tory Miller, Susan Cosgrove who operates Paoli's one-stop-shop for anything fowl, elite gymnist Marvin Kimble, opera singer and artist Jennifer Stevens, and Lyle Anderson - the official carillonneur for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Watch this episode to meet individuals who share a slice of their Wisconsin lives, including: dragon boat uber-enthusiasts Curt and Janine Chiaverotti, Juan Botilla and his group of Monona Grove High students, UW-Madison custom glass blower Tracy Drier, Hmong community leader Katie Thao, and David Cieslewicz who describes how a family tradition turned a deck a cards into much more.
Watch this episode to learn about a collection of people who share their Wisconsin lives, including: UW bee researcher Claudio Gratton, clog dancers Tracy Mullaney and Christi Pfaff , U.S. National Parks Ranger Branda Twaits, costume maker Lois Levanhagen, and international jazz musician Richard Davis.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: a Vernon County man who lives off the grid, a group that helps kids with Autism build and fly drones, a look at Madison's Roller Derby team, northern Wisconsin's Loon Rangers and a Milwaukee blacksmith.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: a paranormal investigation of the old Kewaunee County Jail, a humorous look at how to speak 'Wisconsin,' one of the last botanical artists, family tree needlepoint and an introduction to the traditional North Indian dance form, Bhangra.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: Frank Kovac, who built his own planetarium, a glider pilot who soars high over Wisconsin, a boxer who hopes to bring the sport back to UW-Madison, a profile of gospel group Queens of Harmony, a fire-loving hula hooper and author Michael Perry on crops.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: Margaret Ingraham, one of the most popular tour guides at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, a visit to St. Martin Island to see migratory birds, an investigation of Native American artifacts, a conversation about cookie jars and a profile of cow chip champ Terry Stramowski.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A marine archaeologist who studies the history of lighthouses, a researcher who studies bald eagles, a hat-making couple that keeps the art form alive, a man who is a Wisconsinite by marriage but not by birth, and a record-winning whip cracker.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A man who drives a car/boat hybrid, an urban beekeeper who shares what all the buzz is about, a look at dress designs with a fascinating history, a trip to meet Madison's Mounted Patrol, and a chance to talk wheels with Michael Perry.
Revisit past favorite stories, including a duo of Sheboygan surfers, a wedded pair of weavers and a skilled glider pilot.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories Include: a caver who spends time exploring Door County’s underground treasures, a logger who uses horse power, a conservation biologist tracking wood turtles, an aspiring opera singer, and a doctor whose approach to medicine has been transformed through his own experience as a patient.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories Include: a group of riders cruising the back roads of Wisconsin, a UW-Madison professor who teaches a course on dairy taste-testing, a master clockmaker who handcrafts some of the world’s most unique clocks, a couple from Shawano county sprucing up old barns with their barn quilts, and a couple dedicated to dog sledding.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories Include: one family’s adventure in the ice caves, a standout UW-Madison Men’s Basketball team member who is also a proud member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, one couple’s transformation of an old dairy farm into a productive apple cider farm, and the reunion of family and friends to honor a Wisconsin soldier killed in Vietnam.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories Include: an annual celebration of traditional Native culture at the Ojibwe Winter Games, a Wisconsin Veteran’s journey kayaking the Mississippi River, a big wheel biker in Waukesha, ice fishing partners in Vilas County, and Wisconsin Cartoonist Lynda Barry explores the role art can play in our lives at all ages.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories Include: a veterinarian who finds healing for his own illness through treating horses, a Milwaukee collage artist exploring her past through her art, one professor’s passion for music education, a Neenah man’s talent for making not-so-traditional stringed instruments, and one Wisconsinite’s thoughts on how to deal with winter.
Meet a group of people who share their Wisconsin Life. Stories include: a retiree who carves whirligigs inspired by the homeland he was forced to flee, a photographer who goes to fearful heights for the perfect shot, an artist who explores Native American issues with modern kitsch, and a road trip to Door County.
Meet a group of people who share their Wisconsin Life. Stories include: a football start turned comic book artist, an African veterinarian working in Wisconsin, the drivers who cruise in the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, a bus driver who shares the gift of literacy and a writer who waxes eloquent about the Flambeau River.
Meet a group of people who share their Wisconsin Life. Stories include: a champion trap shooter who battles back from a health scare, a group of women working to preserve maritime history, two friends with a passion for bobbleheads, an artist who practices traditional Chinese painting, and a softball league for those over 55.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A trip on the Badger Ferry, a taste of local brewing trends with Wisconsin’s first female brewmaster, a look at one-of-a-kind decoys called “boonducks,” a visit with a man who’s determined to visit all of Wisconsin’s natural scenic areas, and a fresh take on dance with a trapeze artist.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A group of women who love the Ice Age Trail, a visit to a Door County goat farm, a crafter who’s making Wisconsin maps that showcase bottle caps, a photographer who photographs and maps out gravestones to create a record for the living, and an animated story about why games matter.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life: A charter captain who leads fishing trips in Lake Michigan, a visit to Kewaunee County’s Czech Festival to see how volunteers make 12,000 Czech pastries called “kolache," a lesson on prairie and savannah conservation, a man who drives the Zamboni at the UW-Madison Kohl Center and family that’s been “clowning around” for generations.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A carver who crafts with a chainsaw, a group that isn’t letting Alzheimer’s stop them from enjoying the power of song, a family that’s been harness racing for four generations, a couple who raises monarch butterflies, and a cosplayer who’s bringing Star Wars to life.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A nature photographer, a man who designs and restores neon signs, a visit to the “Valley of the Kings” exotic animal sanctuary, and a look at the ins and outs of cyclocross with a professional cyclist.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A small-town theater that’s keeping its doors open and its popcorn popping, a forager who swears that naturally growing plants are a culinary delicacy, a look at the power of words with spoken word artist Althea Miller, a Wisconsin company that’s lighting the way and a look sculptures created by the “Starvin’ Carvists.”
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A couple who fell in love while studying wood carving in Norway, a look at the competitive side of cheerleading, a world-class weight and hammer thrower with Olympic dreams, a visit with the Threshold Singers who believe in the power of human voice and a look at the gymnastic pursuit of parkour.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A man who tends the Green Bay Packers’ turf, a love story that wouldn’t be possible without a disappearing language called Walloon, a woman who’s drawn to the life aquatic, a visit to a specialty flower farm and a look at the dressed-down rules of pond hockey.
Meet a collection of people who share their Wisconsin life. Stories include: A woman who coped with a health scare by exploring Wisconsin’s past, an artist who builds designer snare drums, a child prodigy who was the youngest person to graduate from the University of Wisconsin medical school, winter ice drag races and an animated story about the relationship between taxicab drivers and passengers.
Meet a determined University of Wisconsin-Whitewater athlete, a collector who restores classic arcade games, a wooden mask carver, a honey bee breeder who has found sweet success on her farm, and a Two Rivers resident who’s crafted a song about the fading manufacturing era.
Meet a man who leads an after-school boxing program for at-risk youth, an artist who paints extremely realistic landscapes, a volunteer firefighter, a DNR wildlife program associate who leads crane-watching events, and a “The Andy Griffith Show” fan who drives a replica Mayberry squad car.
Meet a world-champion curler who coaches the U.S. Paralympic Curling team, a Rubik’s Cube record holder, an urban-wildlife photographer, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse historian who leads historic bike tours, and a couple whose glass-art studio is located deep in the North Woods.
Visit a farm animal sanctuary, a renovated concert hall in Comstock, a lavender farm on Washington Island, a retirement home with a passion for ping pong and a Steampunk community in a small Wisconsin town.
Meet a former Ho-Chunk Nation president, a couple who raise Clydesdale horses, a man who landed his dream job at the Packers Hall of Fame, a drummer who’s recording retro music on magnetic tape and a family whose burger stand has been family-owned and operated for three generations.
Meet a Purple Martin breeder, a UW-Madison dance professor, a husband and wife who run their own craft shop, the founders of Guitars for Vets, and a pool hall prodigy from Waukesha.
Meet a Milwaukee street artist, the Wollersheim wine maker, a loving grandpa from Rosendale, and a UW-Stout professor who designed his own video game.
Meet the UW-Barron Rube Goldberg team, a muskie fisherman, a body artist from Madison, and a Shakespeare therapy program for veterans.
Meet a classically trained cellist who’s putting a modern spin on music, a blogger who’s exposing dishonest business practices, a mathematics-inspired furniture maker, a man who holds the key to an incredible collection of artifacts, and a highly skilled Magic: The Gathering competitor.
Meet a high-school pep band whose sound is larger than life, a museum’s artist in residence, the artistic director at a theater company for people with disabilities, a woman who’s giving unwanted stuffed animals a second life, and an esteemed matriarch nicknamed “Big Mama.”
Host Angela Fitzgerald learns how injured animals are cared for at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Bay and shares stories, including a Monticello dairy farmer who is singing the blues; an Oshkosh artist who channels his health challenges into artwork and a Madison couple who started Wisconsin’s first Spanish-language radio station. Also, author Michael Perry gets nostalgic about kitchens.
Host Angela Fitzgerald takes center stage at American Players Theatre and shares the stories of a young acting apprentice, a Washburn County man with a unique deer hunting stand, a beloved teacher with decades of tenure and - well into his 90s - no plans to retire, and a family putting down strong roots for a living legacy.
Host Angela Fitzgerald explores the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and shares the stories of a Wausau singer-songwriter who is a sensation in the Hmong-language pop music scene, a team of volunteers running a TV game show out of a Racine hospital, a Grafton mother and son team who operate an old-fashioned shoe repair shop and a pair of ER doctors who pay tribute to unlucky anglers.
Host Angela Fitzgerald visits Kenosha's Washington Park Velodrome and shares stories from across the state, including a teacher with an ear for country music; a librarian who catalogs both books and seeds; a tour of an oddities shop; and a Make-A-Wish dream come true.
Host Angela Fitzgerald checks out some of Milwaukee's many outdoor murals. Profiles include Madison's poet laureate, the passionate Lady Yakkers and national competitors in two unique activities: Braille writing/reading and a sport called German Wheel.
Host Angela Fitzgerald heads to Woodruff to learn what it takes to be a lumberjack at the Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Show, then shares stories about a Wounded Warrior who is also a national log-rolling champion, an Iroquois bead artist, a golf course known for its sands – versus its greens, and a troubadour who has a song in his heart for Wisconsin.
Host Angela Fitzgerald explores the Jurustic Park sculpture garden in Marshfield. Fitzgerald also shares profiles from across the state, including one of Africa’s leading female playwrights who now calls Eau Claire home; a self-taught “fish carver”; a couple who restored their land to prairie habitat; and a UW-Madison student/American Ninja Warrior competitor.
Host Angela Fitzgerald spends the day at Food Enterprise and Economic Development (FEED) Kitchens in Madison. Profiles include a woman with a sweet connection to FEED; a skiing program for the visually impaired; a luthier who built a family business around the nyckelharpa; and an animated story about a young girl who discovers a family tradition.
Host Angela Fitzgerald explores Roche-A-Cri State Park in Adams County and views its Native American petroglyphs and pictographs. Fitzgerald also shares profiles including a musical Jump River bar owner and a talented Madison photojournalist. Plus, enjoy two seasonal Door County profiles — commercial ice fishermen and a dedicated Christmas tree farmer.
Host Angela Fitzgerald heads to Blackhawk Island in Jefferson County to explore the life of poet Lorine Niedecker. Profiles include a Pewaukee couple who know Mr. and Mrs. Claus; a student/Milwaukee native who’s heading across the pond; a retired Milwaukee teacher with a passion for playing Latin music; and a Manitowoc woman who creates beaded flower bouquets.
Host Angela Fitzgerald gets the dirt on Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison. Fitzgerald also shares profiles including a village of Viola farmer; a Milwaukee resident who helps children connect to the arts; a Platteville artist who specializes in animal portraits; and a Verona High School student who has found success on stage and in the classroom.
Host Angela Fitzgerald tours the Milwaukee Fire Historical Society's Fire Museum and views a 1927 firetruck and a Cadillac ambulance. Profiles include a Milwaukee basketball player who’s made a unique impact, a DNR biologist helping restore Wisconsin’s elk population in the Northwoods, an “energetic” Madison creative duo and the Madison-based Black Star Drumline.
Host Angela Fitzgerald visits the Oneida Nation Arts Program’s “Music From Our Culture Camp,” which gives Oneida community children the opportunity to learn about music from the ancient past and Indian hymnals. Profiles include a Germantown metal artist, a Pepin County bass player, the owner of the Madison Radicals ultimate disc league, and a Milwaukee women’s music group.
Host Angela Fitzgerald heads to the town of Crandon to explore the Crandon International Raceway. Fitzgerald also shares stories of a motorcycle ride in Pine Bluff; a Milwaukee artist; a retired architect who creates models of Frank Lloyd Wright structures; and an animated account of how an author’s run-in with a bear and her cubs, gave her a new view of mothering.
Host Angela Fitzgerald explores the unique geologic features of the Dells of the Eau Claire County Park. Fitzgerald also shares stories of a geology professor that instills a passion for rocks in her students; an artist who expresses his unique perspective of the Midwest; an organist working to change how we think about classical music; and a cheese competition judge.
Host Angela Fitzgerald travels to Egg Harbor where she hops onboard a Door County Trolley for a tour of the area. Fitzgerald also shares stories of a trolley builder from Crandon; an Appleton man who worked to restore the Fox River Locks system; two men who use ancient techniques to turn rocks into stone tools; and an artist using the medium of glass to explore language.
Angela Fitzgerald checks out the competition at the Special Olympics Wisconsin State Summer Games in Stevens Point. Stories include a young woman whose dancing changes her life; a family tortilla business; a church/bar relationship; and a collector revitalizing historic Darlington.
Angela Fitzgerald visits the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center in La Crosse. Stories include volunteers probing big ecological questions; a painter of Hindu gods and Door County farmers; a woman sending sewing machines around the world; and a giant pumpkin farmer.
Angela Fitzgerald heads underground to explore the caves of the Ledge View Nature Center. Other stories include a fifth-generation family of farmers in Door County; a group of veterans who repair mobility devices; a Rhinelander Musician pursuing his dream; and a group of college graduates who perform Shakespeare at Wisconsin State Parks.
Host Angela Fitzgerald travels to the Racine Arts & Business Center that houses a growing community of creative shops and artists. Fitzgerald also shares stories of other artistic Wisconsinites.
Host Angela Fitzgerald meets up with Brule River Canoe Rental to explore the Brule River State Forest. Fitzgerald takes a canoe trip which begins with a quiet part of the Brule River and quickly becomes a trip down the rapids. Fitzgerald also shares stories of a woman who is taking on the male-dominated sport of fishing; as well as other incredible stories of Wisconsinites making a difference.
Host Angela Fitzgerald joins students at West De Pere High School to learn about their aquaponics program. She hears from teachers and students about the importance of learning this growing system and explores their aquaponics set up. Fitzgerald also shares other stories from people across the state.
Host Angela Fitzgerald returns to the location of one of our favorite stories from Wisconsin Life’s first season, the Toy Train Barn. She catches up with Buck and Jan Guthrie to see what they’ve added and created to their toy train village since we last visited with them. Fitzgerald also shares other stories from across Wisconsin.
Host Angela Fitzgerald slides over to Milwaukee County to get a sled ride from the Door County Sled Dogs. She speaks with Musher Dan to learn about the rescue pups and their educational outreach work around the state. Fitzgerald also shares stories of other Wisconsinites doing what they love.
Host Angela Fitzgerald goes back in time to visit the Barony of Jaravellir, a local chapter of the Society of Creative Anachronism, an organization that re-creates the culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. She talks with Deena Patterson, a member of the group, and tries her hand at archery. Fitzgerald also shares stories from other passionate Wisconsinites.
Host Angela Fitzgerald searches the winter sky in New Berlin at the Milwaukee Astronomical Society Observatory. She talks with Observatory Director, Paul Borchardt, about the group’s history and construction of the nine observatory buildings on site. Fitzgerald also shares stories from other Wisconsinites.
Anchors away! Angela Fitzgerald visits the yards of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding to see how the legacy of shipbuilding continues in Sturgeon Bay. Then she introduces stories of a maritime archaeologist, an Indian classical dancer, a pair of Irish Road Bowlers and an animated tale about the jitters that come with the first day of every school year.
Angela hits the water of Plum Lake with the Plum Ski-ters Water Ski Show Team and shares stories across Wisconsin about a Mequon teen working to bring increased accessibility to the sport of water skiing, a language only used in a Menominee sawmill, a La Crosse man with a huge, vintage guitar collection and a Milwaukee fashion designer who brings an historic hotel’s paintings to life.
It’s show time as Angela joins Black Arts MKE Performing Arts Summer Camp as they create a live theater. Angela also introduces us to a Milwaukee DJ using her musical talents and love of hip hop to give back, a Muscoda man using goats as low-tech vegetation management, an accomplished teen archer from Cadott, and two men who share the love of puppets: the Madison creator and a Mt. Horeb collector.
It’s time to play ball! Angela suits up to play vintage baseball with the Menomonie Blue Caps as they take on teams from across the Midwest. We also check out a game of snowshoe baseball, meet a woman who preserves memories of those who passed, a businesswoman cooking up a family tradition, and a whimsical story of a West Bend couple’s life, love and LEGOs.
Angela Fitzgerald journeys to Wyalusing State Park, one of Wisconsin's oldest park, to check out the hiking, views and cliff-side camping. We also meet an urban arborist trimming trees in Madison, a pastor sewing one-of-a-kind stoles for almost every occasion, a Sauk County soil conservationist committed to water quality and the man behind the monument to Wisconsinite Mildred Fish-Harnack.
Angela Fitzgerald heads to West Bend to embrace the wildlife at the Shalom Wildlife Zoo and sees what it takes to run a zoo. We also meet a man running a bear sanctuary near Wausau, an Eau Claire musician who both restores stringed instruments and plays bluegrass, a New Berlin artist using text to create large scale works of art, and a Valders couple who raise sheep and run a 1920s woolen mill.
Angela Fitzgerald celebrates Dutch heritage with a trip to the Little Chute Windmill to admire the 1850s-esque construction. We also meet an Oostburg man keeping the Dutch art of wooden shoe carving alive, a couple who reimagined their dairy farm into a garden center in Edgar, a preservationist, architecture historian, and theater lover in Genesee Depot and a Cumberland painter using alcohol ink.
In Kenosha, the library comes to you! Angela Fitzgerald renews her love of reading by checking out the Kenosha Public Library Bookmobile. We also meet an Arbor Vitae man keeping the art of hand bookbinding alive, a Kaukauna man mentoring the next generation, a professional musician managing life with hemophilia in Chippewa Falls, and a woman who’s dedicated her life to uplifting her community.
Angela Fitzgerald heads to the pristine vistas of Mirror Lake State Park where she hits the trails with the Wisconsin chapter of Girls Who Hike. We also meet a crochet prodigy with an international following of craft enthusiasts, an animal lover caring for injured birds, a comedian taking the stage by storm and a man with an unusual chainsaw collection.
Angela Fitzgerald travels to Aniwa to tour the Motorama Auto Museum. The non-profit museum has over 400 vehicles on site: sports cars, motorcycles, and even an auto boneyard. We also meet a Randolph woman restoring hot rod cars, a Madison man mentoring at-risk African American teens, a couple in Primrose creating a giving space and a Chetek barber with his pulse on the town.
Angela Fitzgerald joins a crew of young adults from Operation Fresh Start to rehab a home in Oregon. We also meet a Milwaukee furniture builder using Frank Lloyd Wright's designs, a Germantown artist drawing comic book illustrations for kids with chronic diseases, a mixed martial arts competitor from Arcadia and a Madison carpenter running a program for young women centered around building trades.
Angela Fitzgerald heads to UW-Madison’s Marshfield Agricultural Research Station to spend time on a dairy farm for the first time! Angela learns about research to help farmers. We also meet a Beloit College archivist preserving history, an Algoma sculptor telling stories with clay, a Madison woman researching the contentedness of cows and a premier synchronized ice-skating team from Fond du Lac.
Angela Fitzgerald celebrates Lake Geneva’s annual Winterfest, home of the U.S. Snow Sculpting Championships. We also a meet a skijorer –dog sledding and skiing- from Gleason. We stop in at the Hip-Hop Chess Club of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, meet an “awesome” mailman from Janesville helping the homeless, visit a Two-Spirit artist in Lac Du Flambeau and get to know a Glendale indoor soccer team coach.
In the season premiere of "Wisconsin Life," host Angela Fitzgerald visits the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee. Located within the bustling city, the center’s programs are meant to connect people and nature. We also kick off the season with an engaging set of stories sharing the lives and passions of the people that make up our state.
We’re off to Governor Dodge State Park in the heart of the Driftless Area, as host Angela Fitzgerald explores one of Wisconsin’s largest state parks. Also, meet a woman who became Miss Black USA, visit a farm that planted millions of sunflowers to brighten the COVID-19 world, ride in a carriage race and uncover the “Cold War” bridge of two German professors at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Host Angela Fitzgerald tours the Goodman Community Center, a vibrant neighborhood hub on the east side of Madison. She joins in on several activities at the center, all housed within two revitalized historic buildings. We also travel the state to share an array of experiences and stories.
Flowers are in full bloom as host Angela Fitzgerald strolls the vibrant paths of the Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh. She explores the landscape and learns how these historic grounds came to be. While visiting the gardens Angela delves into the stories that make Wisconsin great.
Autumn leaves are at their peak as host Angela Fitzgerald climbs the lookout tower at Lapham Peak in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. She then takes on the trails to see the colorful sights and sounds of fall. We shift from the trails to tales, as people share their stories with us.
Host Angela Fitzgerald takes on the trails with Access Ability Wisconsin, a Wisconsin non-profit, to learn about their work helping people with mobility issues get outdoors and enjoy nature. The organization provides free all-terrain outdoor wheelchairs to enjoy. Continuing our journey, Angela introduces us to other passionate folks in Wisconsin.
We head into the city and the forest as host Angela Fitzgerald visits the urban oasis of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum. Once an industrial waterway, the riverfront park has transformed into a beautiful, thriving treescape. We then travel outside of the city to meet others in the state who share their talents, stories and lives.
Farmers Markets are a staple in Wisconsin, so host Angela Fitzgerald is visiting the Eastside Farmers Market in Madison to check out their offerings and even get a taste test or two. We see what else the state has to offer by diving into a new set of stories. It’s an all-new episode for all the senses to enjoy.
It’s time to soar as host Angela Fitzgerald visits the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. She learns about their conservation efforts and facilities housing cranes from around the world. Then we hit the road to meet others who are sharing their stories with us.
Good fishing, beautiful scenery and accessible hikes. Host Angela Fitzgerald explores all there is to do at Yellowstone Lake State Park. We also set out to show other amazing places and people found in our state.
It’s a celebration of art, music and dancing as host Angela Fitzgerald visits the Folklore Village. Located in Dodgeville, the campus serves as a place for guests to learn and experience a variety of folk art traditions. Then we traverse the state to see the lives and passions of other Wisconsinites.
We’re turning back the clock as host Angela Fitzgerald tours the Paine Art Center and Gardens, a historic mansion in Oshkosh. She learns about Nathan and Jessie Kimberly Paine. Angela meets up with Laura Fiser, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions, as they delve into the historic past of the building. The adventure continues as we connect with stories from across the state.
Winter has arrived as host Angela Fitzgerald takes on the slopes of Granite Peak, a popular ski hill on snowy Rib Mountain State Park. She gets a beginner ski lesson and learns what makes this hill so attractive to skiers and snowboarders of all abilities. Then she travels to the top of Rib Mountain to take in the panoramic vistas of Wausau and Marathon County.
Angela Fitzgerald visits LifeStriders in Waukesha, a non-profit offering equine therapy for kids and people with special needs. We also meet the members of the Lodi Area Radio Control Club, a Madison professor using insects to create art, a handcyclist in Wauwatosa and a modern day cobbler restoring sneakers.
The fields are blossoming as host Angela Fitzgerald frolics through the vibrant flowers at Schuster’s Farm in Deerfield. She talks with Sarah Schuster about their family farm and the joy it brings visitors each year. We also travel around the state to meet a family of lavender farmers and learn about a builder constructing a castle by hand.
Angela Fitzgerald gears up to attend Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) AirVenture in Oshkosh. We check out the GirlVenture Camp, introducing young women to the world of aviation. We also share stories including a Madison fighter pilot with her own flair, a plein air artist capturing landscapes, and a Marion farmer cultivating peonies.
It’s time to take the field in Appleton as Angela Fitzgerald joins the Miracle League of the Fox Valley, a program offering kids with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball. We talk with a player and his dad to find out why the program is so special. We also share the stories of other people doing extraordinary things.
At the Hmong Wausau Festival Angela Fitzgerald enjoys food, sport tournaments and dance competitions. She chats with the Director of the Hmong American Center. We meet a runner on a mission to cover every street in Eau Claire, a couple with a sustainable net zero farm, a macramé artist, and the bee-keeper with a hive on the roof of a church.
We visit the Native Wellness Garden, an urban garden in Milwaukee run by the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center. Angela Fitzgerald learns about sustainable agriculture in a growing space supporting First Nation communities. We meet an organic farmer in Madison, a man repairing and donating bikes, and the restoration of a historic German home.
Catch up with the Art Cart, a program bringing arts and crafts to Dane County parks hosted by Madison School & Community Recreation and the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Then we meet an Oshkosh painter sharing his journey with self-portraits, a glass artist teacher at the UW-Madison Glass Lab, and a two-spirit artist in Lac Du Flambeau.
Angela Fitzgerald joins volunteers with the Ice Age Trail Alliance as they build a new boardwalk on the Lodi Marsh Segment of the trail. We learn about the organization’s effort to preserve the popular trail running through the state’s breathtaking glacial landscapes. Then, we meet a conservation biologist and a family racing burros!
We explore the Pine View Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center in Fredonia as they work to rescue and release animals back into the wild. Angela Fitzgerald learns from animal ambassadors including an owl and bald eagle. Then we meet the founder of a primate sanctuary and a designer decorating the White House for the holiday season.
Angela Fitzgerald visits the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc, an interactive museum celebrating our state’s agriculture industry. She explores hands-on exhibits and learns about livestock. We also meet a motorcycle rider attempting a world record and the founder of Color in the Outdoors, a nonprofit helping others connect to nature.
We visit the Milton House Museum, the last certified underground railroad stop in Wisconsin that can be toured. Learn about the journey freedom seekers took and the history of abolitionists in our state. Then meet a pair of artists behind Fanana Banana, a Muslim art collective, and the owner of Madison’s A Room of One’s Own bookstore.
Angela Fitzgerald joins the Stevens Point Curling Club at the Sentry Curling Center in Plover. She learns about the club’s history, discovers why the sport is so popular and tries curling for the first time. We then look into the Green Bay Botanical Garden’s annual light show and share an animation about Wisconsin’s love for small talk.
We visit MOWA, the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, celebrating classical and contemporary artists from around our state. We also meet an Eau Claire celebrity nicknamed Jack the Magnificent, a Madison portrait artist helping others learn the craft, a naturalist in Fitchburg sharing the power of plants, and we see something odd in Oshkosh.
Angela Fitzgerald joins an adaptive sailing adventure with the Sailing Education Association of Sheboygan, or SEAS. We also meet a bird watcher and his BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, a Madison doctor battling Parkinson’s disease through boxing, the owners of Milwaukee’s Wioletta’s Polish Market, and we tour a safari park near Lake Geneva.
At Willow River State Park, Angela Fitzgerald explores the park’s popular waterfall, serene lake, and endless hiking trails that welcome close to 1 million visitors a year. Meet a couple in Menomonee Falls celebrating furry felines with an enormous cat collection, and we visit Kohler-Andrae State Park in Sheboygan to meet the Pudgy Pie Guy.
Angela Fitzgerald visits Riverview Gardens in Appleton, an organization empowering people through job training and employment. The non-profit transformed a country club into a thriving farm growing produce on old golf fairways and lettuce in the pool house. We also meet a pilot rescuing pups and a barber on a mission to keep Milwaukee healthy.
Hop aboard the Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad for a historic train ride through the Northwoods. The family-run business offers pizza, wine and dinner train trips year-round. We also meet the host of the 98.7FM WVMO radio program Bea’s Buzz, the founder of Elkhart Lake’s Amazing Grace Equine Sanctuary and a Madison pottery artist.
Discover the wild side of Waukesha at the Retzer Nature Center, as we explore the county park’s diverse ecosystems, interactive exhibits and the state-of-the-art planetarium. Then we meet hiker and social media influencer Dineo Dowd as she takes her passion abroad and a self-described curmudgeon shares his love for creating garden art.
Angela Fitzgerald enjoys dancing and food at the Holi Festival of Colors at the Monk Botanical Gardens in Wausau. We also meet a pair of bat dogs for Madison Mallards and Lake Country DockHound baseball games, a Milwaukee artist inspired by lakeshore trash, and a UW-Madison law professor encouraging young people to be more civically engaged.
Hit the slopes with Blackhawk Ski Club, a non-profit teaching competitive winter sports. Host, Angela Fitzgearld checks out cross-country skiing, biathlon training and high-flying ski jumps. Then we join an artist and tour guide at The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museum in Platteville and we explore our interstellar connection to Rib Mountain.
It’s time to dine as Angela Fitzgerald visits Zócalo Food Park in Milwaukee to see what’s cooking. This vibrant food truck park offers flavors of Puerto Rico, South Korea, Venezuela, Japan and Mexico — then join an annual Door County mini-golf tournament and meet a race car driver working to create equality on the track.
Angela Fitzgerald spreads her wings in Appleton at the Butterfly Gardens of Wisconsin, a non-profit preserve celebrating the vibrant insects. The seven-acre complex offers visitors a serene backdrop to learn about pollinators and the native plants they need to survive, while preserving 40 different butterfly species native to Outagamie County.
Come one, come all! Angela Fitzgerald visits Circus World in Baraboo to learn about Wisconsin’s historical contributions to the circus. Nestled along the Baraboo River, this site was the Ringling Bros. original winter quarters home. Today, Circus World hosts circus performances and exhibits presented by the Wisconsin Historical Society.
Angela Fitzgerald heads to Chippewa Falls to explore the historic Northern Wisconsin State Fair, a community staple for more than 100 years. Its rich history includes agricultural exhibits, a midway and even a 1935 Green Bay Packers game. Nowadays, visitors can hop on carnival rides, try culinary concoctions or attend a pig, duck and goat race.
Visit Pringle Nature Center, a nonprofit dedicated to putting people in touch with nature. Angela Fitzgerald tours the center, housed in Bristol Woods Park, to check out the interactive ways to discover, learn about and engage with the natural world. We also join the Kubb Championship in Eau Claire and explore a fashion school in Milwaukee.
Angela Fitzgerald checks out artifacts from Wisconsin and beyond at the State Archive Preservation Facility in Madison. The state-of-the-art location houses special collections including films, clothing and large objects like a vintage Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. We also visit a vinyl record pressing company and a teen with a hobby of plane spotting.
Angela Fitzgerald heads up north to Phillips as she explores Wisconsin Concrete Park. The roadside museum celebrates the artistic creations of Fred Smith, a retired lumberjack who created handmade sculptures using cement. Then join a family of water skiers, a fashion designer sharing their craft and a golfer playing for a world record.